Fastener



July 10, 1962 p MAGNUSON 3,043,616

FASTENER Filed Dec. 16, 1959 PAUL 6. MAGNUSON INVENTOR.

ATTO

cited States Patent 3,043,616 FASTENER Paul G. Magnuscn, Leicester, Mass, assignor to Worcester Tool 82 Stamping (10., Inc., Leicester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 16, 195.), Ser. No. 860,035 4 Claims. (Cl. 292--3) This invention relates to a fastener and more particularly to a draw or toggle bolt for fastening together a container and a cover hinged thereto.

In the manufacture of containers with hinged covers and particularly those which are used as fishing tackle boxes and tool chests, it is common practice to use a so called toggle bolt. Such a fastener consists of a male member connected to the top of the box and a female member attached to the bottom of the box with a loop joining the two of them, the loop forming part of an over-center toggle arrangement which locks the two members together and, of course, locks the two halves of the container together. Actuating the parts of the toggle bolt to bring about this locking function is a rather time-consuming operation and there are many times in the use of tackle box or tool box where the user merely wishes to move the box a few feet and does not wish to go through such a painstaking operation. For instance, in fishing, when one wishes to carry the fishing tackle box from one part of the boat to another, there is no need for apermanent fastening of the cover to the lower part of the box and, yet, failure to at least temporarily fasten the two parts together will result in the spilling of the contents of the box. These and other difliculties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

An outstanding object of the invention is to provide a fastener for use on a container having a lower tray and a cover hinged thereto, the fastener having a relatively permanent connection joining the two parts and also having a relatively temporary connection which may be quickly disconnected.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a fastener for use on a fishing tackle box or the like which permits a quick temporary connection between the two for short carrying trips and a more permanent connection for long trips.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a fastener for use on a tool box or the like which may be readily manufactured from stamped parts, which is relatively inexpensive to make, and which is capable of a long life of useful service.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a toggle bolt which has a quick-action, temporary fastening means.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to certain of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fastener incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the fastener taken along the line IIII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a portion of the fastener.

Referring first to FIG. 1, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the fastener, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown in use in connection with a container 11 which consists of an upper cover 12 and a lower tray 13. The fastener itself consists of an upper portion 14 which is fastened to the upper cover 12 adjacent its lower edge and a lower por- Efliiifiih Patented .iuiy 10, 1962 ice tion 15 which is fastened to the lower tray 13 adjacent its upper edge. The upper cover 12 and the lower tray 13 meeting along a parting line 16. The upper portion 14 of the fastener consists of a latch member 17, a spring 18, and a plate 19. The latch member 17 and the spring 18 and the plate 19 are shown in perspective in the exploded View of FIG. 3. The lower portion 15 consists of a plate 21, a housing 22, a toggle link 23, and a bail 24 as well as certain secondary elements such as a leaf spring 25 and a locking tongue 26.

The plate 19 of the upper portion 14 is a sheet metal stamping and is generally rectangular in conformation with rounded corners. It is provided throughout its periphery with a rearwardly-extending flange 27. Adjacent one end is formed a countersunk riveting aperture 28, while a similar aperture 29 is located adjacent the other end. In the central portion the plate is provided with an upstanding boss 31 which is generally square shaped and through this boss extends two slots 32 and 33. These slots are parallel to one another and each located adjacent a vertical edge of the boss 31. They extend from a lower position directly against the flange 27 to an upper position adjacent the upper edge of the boss but do not extend completely to the upper edge of the boss. The spring 18 is formed of a thin strip of sheet metal and is generally V-shaped, as shown in FIG. 3, although in use it takes more of a U-shaped configuration, as is evident in FIG. 2. The rearward end is provided with a slight bend 34 which is adapted tolie against the face of the boss 31 of the plate 19', The latch member 17 is in the form of a sheet metal stamping and is provided with a generally rectangular forward face 35 from which is bent an upper flange 36 which extends rearwardly of the upper edge of the forward face 35. Also extending rearwardly from the forward face 35 are side flanges 37 and 38 as well as a lower ear 39. The side flange 37 is generally rectangular in conformation and has :a height exactly the same as the slot 32 through which it is intended to pass. It is provided at its outer end with an upstanding ear 41 and a lower rearwardly-extending car 42. After the flange 37 has been inserted through the slot 32, the car 41 extends upwardly behind the front face of the boss 31 in the area not occupied by the slot 32. The ear 42, on the other hand, is bent at a right angle behind the slot 32 to lock the members together, the other side flange 38 is similarly provided with an upstanding ear 43 and a rearwardlyextending ear 44; after the flange 38 has been inserted through the slot 33, the ear 43 extends upwardly behind the portion of the boss 31 beyond the upper end of the slot 33, while the car 44 is bent at a right angle behind the slot 33 to cooperate with the bent ear 42 for holding the plate and latch member together, the spring 18 having been inserted between the two before assembly, as is shown in FIG. 2. The lower ear 39 consists of a horizontal portion 45 which directly underlies the side flanges 37 and 38 and a vertical portion 46 which is rounded at its lower end and is provided with a forwardly-extending tooth 47. It will be understood that after the three elements of the upper portion have been assembled, that the latch member 17 is capable of rocking motion about a pivot represented by the contact between the ears 41 and 43 with the back side of the boss 31 and, when one presses the lower portion of the front face 35 of the latch memher, the ears 42 and 44 will move away from the back of the boss 31 carrying the ear 39 and the tooth 47 with them. I

With regard to the lower portion 15, the plate 21 is a stamped metal member provided with-a rearwardly-directed flange 48 extending rearwardly of a front face; the conformationof the plate is generally shield-shaped having a straight upper edge 49 and a curved lower edge 51. Two countersunk rivet apertures 52 and 53 are provided 3 to permit fastening to the lower tray of the container. The housing 22 is provided with a generally rectangular forward face 54 from the upper edge of which extends a rearward flange 55. The housing 22- is also provided with rearwardly-directed side flanges 56 and 57, each of which is provided with ears which extend through suitable apertures in the plate 21 and which are bent at right angles on the rearward side of the plate to permanently fasten the housing to the plate. The side flanges have lower ears which are apertured and provided with rivets 58 which extend through the toggle link 23. The toggle link 23v is a pressed metal member formed with a forward face 59 from which extends an upper flange 61 extending rearwardly into close relationship with the leaf spring 25 which is riveted at its lower end to the plate 21 and has a free upper end lying adjacent the flange 61. The toggle link is also provided with side flanges of which the side flange 62 is representative. It is through the upper portion of this side flangethat a rivet 58 extends in order that the toggle link 23 may be hinged to the housing 22. The side flanges are also provided with apertures 63 through which extend the ends of the rectangular bail 24. The lower portion of the toggle link 23 is provided with a slot 64 through which extends the locking tongue 26 which is provided with a large circular aperture 65 for the insertion of a lock. The rear end of the locking tongue 26 extends through a suitable slot in the plate 21, is bent at a right angle, and is welded to the rearward surface of the plate.

The operation of the apparatus of the invention will now bereadily understood in view'of the above description. It will be understood that the upper portion 14 will .be fastened to the upper cover 12 of the container 11 by means of rivets inserted through the apertures 28 and or more or less permanently locked), the apparatus will have the appearance shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vertical portion 46 of the ear 39 will extend behind the flange 55 of the housing 22 with the tooth 47 underlying the rearward edge of that flange. In that position the spring by the rear of the flange 36, the upper edges of the side flanges 37 and 33, and the plate 14. In this position the togglelink 23 is situated with its lower end pressed tightly against the plate 21 adjacent the locking tongue 26. The

toggle link 23 and the bail 24 represent an over-center toggle with the aperture 63 situated closer to the plate 21 than the rivet 58, so that the toggle pulls the upper portion and the lower portion of the fastener tightly together which, of course, draws the two halves of the container together along the parting line 16. If a padlock is inserted through the aperture 65, it will be diflicult to open the container. I

To open the fastener, the toggle link 23 is pulled forwardly until the aperture 63 reaches a geometrical relationship to the rivet 58 such that the bail 24 is free to slip over the top of the latch member 17. The bail is then dropped into a position such that it hangs downwardly from the toggle link; Then the user of the container presses against the lower part of the latch member 17 in the area lettered Push in FIG. 1. As he presses, he compresses the spring 18 so that the ear 39 with the tooth 47 moves rearwardly. Eventually it reaches a point at which the tooth will clear the rearward edge of the flange 55 of the housing 22. At that time the cover of the container may be raised and the container is open for use.

If the user of the container wishes to close it quickly and temporarily, he merely has to drop the upper cover downwardly toward the lower tray 13. The ear 39 enters the space behind the flange of the housing 22 of the lower portion 15 and the tooth d7 cams along the rearward edge of the flange 55. When the ear has progressed far enough into the housing 22, the ear snaps forwardly into the position shown in FIG. 2 carrying the tooth 47 with it. The user is then free to carry the container by a handle on its cover and he has a temporary fastening between the two halves so that the contents of the container are not in danger of being spilled. He can quickly open the container again merely by pressing on the lower portion of the latch member 17, but, when he is ready to go home after a day of fishing (if the container happens to be a fishing tackle box), he merely repeats the latching process but continues it by lifting the bail 24 and plac'uig it behind the flange 36 of the latch member 17 and then pressing the lower end of the toggle link 23 downwardly until its lower end rests snugly against the plate 21. The container is then permanently latched for a long trip or for use with a padlock.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, What is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fastener for use on 'a container having a lower tray andan upper cover hinged thereto, comprising an upper portion adapted to be attached to the cover, the

upper portion consisting of a plate, a spring, and a latch member, the plate having two parallel slots therethrough, the latch member having ears extending through the slots and extending laterally on the backside of the slots to permit a hinging action between the plate and latch member, the spring residing between the plate and latch member to bias the latch member to one extremity of the said hinging action, a lower portion adapted to be attached to the tray, a first means for connecting the lower portion to the upper portion, and a second means for connecting the portions and for quickly releasing them, the lower portion having a housing with an opening in its upper part, the second means consisting of a downwardly extending ear attached to the latch member with a tooth adapted to engage the edge of the said open- 7 ing in the housing.

2. A fastener for use on a container and having a lower tray and an upper cover hinged thereto, comprising an upper portion adapted to be attached to the cover, the upper portion consisting of a plate, a spring, and a latch member, the plate having two parallel slots therethrough, the latch member having ears extending through the slots and extending laterally on the back side of the slots to permit a hinging action between the plate and latch member, the spring residing between the plate and latch member to bias the latch member to one extremity of the said hinging action, a lower portion adapted to be attached to the tray, the lower portion including a bail adapted to loop around a part'of the latch member associated with the upper portion, the bail being hingedly connected to a toggle link which in turn is hingedly connected to a housing which is adapted to be fixed to the lower tray of the container, and a means for connecting the portions and for quickly releasing them, the housing of the lower portion having an opening in its upper part, the said means consisting of a downwardly extending ear attached to the latch member with a tooth adapted to engage the edge of the said opening in the housing.

3. A fastener for use on a container having a lower tray and an upper cover hinged thereto, comprising an upper portion adapted to be attached to the cover, the upper portion consisting of a plate, a spring, and a latch member, the plate having two parallel slots therethrough, the latch member having ears extending through the slots and extending laterally on the back side of the slots to permit 21 hinging action between the plate and the latch member, the spring residing between the plate and latch member to bias the latch member to one extremity of the said hinging action, a lower portion including a flange adapted to be attachedto the tray, a first means for connecting the lower portion to the upper portion, and said latch member including a second means independent of the first means for engaging the flange and connecting the portions and by pressure and hinging action of the latch member for quickly releasing them.

4. A fastener for use on a container having a lower tray and an upper cover hinged thereto, comprising an upper portion adapted to be attached to the cover, the upper portion consisting of a plate, a spring, and a latch member, the plate having two parallel slots therethrough, the latch member having ears extending through the slots and extending laterally on the back sides of the slots to permit a hinging action between the plate and latch member, the spring residing between the plate and latch member to bias the latch member to one extremity of the said hingin-g action, a lower portion including a flange adapted to be attached to the tray, the lower portion including a bail adapted to loop around the latch member of the upper portion, the bail being hingedly connected to a toggle which, in turn, is hingedly connected to a housing which is adapted to be fixed to the lower tray of the container, the said bail for connecting the lower portion to the upper portion, and said latch member including a second means for engaging the flange and connecting the portions and for quickly releasing them.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,392,531 Shaif Oct. 4, 1921 1,401,491 Reeve Dec. 27, 1921 1,437,427 Langenau Dec. 5, 1922 2,203,876 Peterson June 11, 1940 2,294,120 Levine Aug. 25, 1942 2,953,404 Miller et a1. Sept. 20, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 31,021 France Aug. 3, 1926 289,223 Great Britain Apr. 26, 1928 

